Global Category Manager, Commercial

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.
The Global Category Manager, Commercial is responsible for leading global category strategies across assigned commercial spend portfolios and serving as a trusted strategic business partner to senior stakeholders across Commercial, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Sales Excellence, Customer Experience, Finance, Legal, and other key functions.
This role operates at an enterprise level, translating business priorities, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and risk considerations into multi-year category strategies that deliver measurable business value. The successful candidate combines commercial expertise, strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and supplier relationship management to optimize value, manage risk, accelerate innovation, and enhance stakeholder experience.
As a member of the Global Procurement team, you will lead strategic sourcing initiatives, develop category roadmaps, influence senior leaders without formal authority, and manage strategic supplier relationships that support commercial growth, customer engagement, digital transformation, and operational excellence. You will also play a visible role in procurement transformation initiatives, digital enablement programs, and continuous improvement efforts that advance Smith+Nephew's strategic priorities.
What Will You Be Doing?
Category Strategy & Value Delivery
Lead the development, execution, and continuous evolution of global category strategies across assigned commercial categories and supplier portfolios.
Translate business requirements, market intelligence, supplier insights, and enterprise priorities into actionable category roadmaps.
Identify and implement value creation opportunities that improve cost efficiency, supplier performance, innovation, customer engagement, risk management, sustainability, and business outcomes.
Develop and maintain Finance-validated savings pipelines, value plans, and business cases aligned with enterprise objectives.
Ensure category strategies are integrated into annual business planning and commercial priorities.
Provide category expertise and strategic recommendations that support enterprise decision-making.
Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and supplier innovations to identify competitive advantages and growth opportunities.
Strategic Business Partnering
Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner to senior stakeholders across Commercial, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Sales Excellence, Customer Experience, Finance, Legal, and other functions.
Build strong and collaborative relationships that position Procurement as a strategic enabler of growth.
Influence priorities and decisions through data-driven insights, market intelligence, and structured recommendations.
Constructively challenge business decisions to appropriately balance value, risk, speed, compliance, and strategic outcomes.
Facilitate alignment among global, regional, and functional stakeholders to accelerate execution and decision-making.
Act as a procurement ambassador, promoting best practices and enabling business success through strategic partnerships.
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Excellence
Lead complex sourcing initiatives, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contracting activities.
Design sourcing strategies and commercial models aligned with business priorities and category objectives.
Lead negotiations involving pricing, agency models, digital solutions, marketing services, customer engagement platforms, data services, intellectual property, and contractual risk.
Structure and negotiate complex supplier agreements while ensuring compliance with enterprise governance standards.
Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to create contracts that effectively balance value creation and risk mitigation.
Drive sourcing excellence through competitive market assessments, supplier benchmarking, and best-in-class procurement methodologies.
Supplier Relationship Management
Manage strategic supplier relationships within assigned portfolios.
Establish governance frameworks and performance management processes that drive accountability and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with suppliers to identify innovation opportunities that support commercial effectiveness and organizational growth.
Monitor supplier performance through meaningful KPIs, scorecards, and business reviews.
Lead executive-level supplier engagements and performance discussions as appropriate.
Develop resilient supplier ecosystems that support scalability, competitiveness, and innovation.
Proactively identify and mitigate supplier risks and capability gaps.
Risk, Governance & Compliance
Identify, assess, and proactively manage commercial, supplier, contractual, operational, and compliance risks.
Ensure sourcing and contracting activities comply with company policies, procurement governance standards, and applicable regulations.
Provide stakeholders with clear risk assessments and mitigation recommendations.
Escalate significant risks early and support informed decision-making.
Support governance forums through fact-based analysis and recommendations.
Maintain accurate category documentation, sourcing records, reporting, and audit readiness.
Data, Insights & Digital Enablement
Leverage advanced analytics, supplier intelligence, market research, and AI-enabled tools to inform strategic decisions.
Translate complex datasets into actionable insights and executive-level recommendations.
Develop dashboards, scorecards, value reporting, and category performance metrics.
Champion data-driven decision-making across Procurement and stakeholder groups.
Promote adoption of digital procurement capabilities and automation solutions.
Drive initiatives that improve efficiency, transparency, user experience, and commercial effectiveness.
Transformation & Continuous Improvement
Lead and support procurement transformation initiatives that improve operating models, capabilities, and stakeholder experience.
Contribute to the implementation of new technologies, supplier management approaches, governance frameworks, and ways of working.
Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce complexity, and improve business outcomes.
Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous learning.
Champion Smith+Nephew's "Better Every Day" mindset by driving sustainable improvement and embracing change.
What Will You Need to Be Successful?
Education
Bachelor's degree required in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, Economics, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
MBA, CIPS, CPSM, ISM, or equivalent professional certification preferred.
Advanced training in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or commercial leadership is highly desirable.
Experience:
Required
7+ years of procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or related commercial experience.
Proven track record developing and executing global category strategies that deliver measurable business impact.
Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior business stakeholders.
Demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives and commercial negotiations.
Experience developing business cases and delivering Finance-validated value.
Experience managing strategic supplier relationships.
Experience working in global, matrixed, and cross-functional environments.
Preferred
Experience supporting Commercial, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Professional Services, Digital, Customer Experience, Media, Agency, Research, Analytics, or Innovation-related spend categories.
Experience within a global healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical, or life sciences organization.
Experience leveraging analytics platforms, AI-enabled tools, and digital procurement technologies.
Strong change management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
Experience contributing to transformation, digitization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Travel Requirements: 10-20% global travel, as business needs require.
You Unlimited.
We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our strongest investments are in our people and the patients we serve.
Inclusion and Belonging- Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving on Inclusion and Belonging, Learn more about Employee Inclusion Groups on our website (https://www.smith-nephew.com/).
Your Future: 401k Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Discounted Stock Options, Tuition Reimbursement
Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day
Your Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500+ annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program
Training: